Chair



Patented Oct. 28, 1941 Arthur E. Jones 'Elkhart, Ind., assignor to'Pos-,

" Research p i Elkhart,; Ind.,

corporation-oflndiana -Applieation December24, 1938, Serial No. 247,649

ZClaims. (oldies-f s s I I g,

- -.I4 indi ates the means bywhichtheba k s This invention relates to chairs and more particularly to those having a forwardlysand rearwardlyadjustable backrest, and it consists of; the matters hereinafter described and more particularly" pointed out in the appended claims. I

One of the obj eCtS'Df the'present invention is to provide a chair having a backrest adjustment easily operated by theoccupant while sitting on the seat of the chair and which positively holds the backrest'in theposition into which it has been adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair having a backrest adjustment which is simple in construction to permit of low cost production, is strong and durable, and at the same time requires no tools in making an adjustment of the backrest.

The above mentioned objects of the invention,

as well as others, together with the several advantages thereof, will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the seat and associated backrest of a chair embodying one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation on an enlarged scale of the bottom of the seat of the chair.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view on a further enlarged scale through .a part of the chair and associated seat, as taken on the line 33 of 7 Fig.2. 7

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view through a part of the adjusting mechanism of the chair as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 5 indicates the seat of a chair and 6 indicates the backrest of the chair. At each side of the seat on the bottom thereof is fixed a supporting member 'I in the form of an angle iron having a horizontally extending flange 8, and a vertically extending flange 9 that is deeper toward the rear of the seat. The supporting members I are secured to the wooden bottom II] of the seat (see Fig. 3) by bolts or the like II which pass through the horizontal flange of the respective members and through the ends of diagonally extending brace bars I2-I2. These bars, which coact to form a seat supporting spider, intersect I each other somewhat toward the rear of the seat and a seat post I3 is fixed to the intersection of said bars. The seat post is adapted for operative swivelling engagement in the usual barrel of the base for the chair, which is not shown herein.

improvements in 6 istoperatiyely connected tothe-seat 5 as ayvhole for support thereby; ;As shown herein said means consists of an inverted U shape frame that includes a pair of laterally spaced, substantially upright arms I-5:I 5 anda topcross bar I 6. The said inverted; U shaped frame is madeofmetal tubing and the upperend portions of'the arms I5 are flattened and-formed: with vertically spaced holes I! therein. The backrest is provided with a ,pair of ,end ears 4B and they vare each operatively connected to a clip I9 that engages the inner surface of the flattened top end part of an associated arm I5. Each clip I9 is secured to the flattened top end part of the associated arm by a bolt 29 that passesthrough the desired hole II. It is apparent that by inserting the bolts'ZIl through the clips I9 and the desired holes I! in the arms, the backrest 6 may be adjusted as to height with respect to the seat5. I

The bottom endof the arms I5 are curved forwardly and are operatively secured to an axis bar 2I (see Fig. 2) and end portions of this'bar,

outwardly of the arms I5 are journalled in bearing ears 22, one fixed to the rear end portion of the inner surface of each vertical'flange 9 of the supporting members 'I'I. By this arrangement it is apparent that the arms I5 may be swung with the bar 2! as an axis, toward or away from v the rear end of the seat.

A power transmitting arm 23 is fixed to the bar 2|, near one of the arms I5 and this arm 23 extends toward the front of the seat. The front end of said arm 23 is'bifurcated so as to provide opposed, inwardly extending lugs (see Fig. 4) which engage in the opposite sides of an annular groove 25 formed in a hand operable, headed nut 26. This nut has threaded engagement upon a bolt 21 that is fixed at one end to the horizontal flange 8 of one of the supporting members I and depends therefrom. The nut 26, bolt 21 and arm 23 are arranged at one side of the seat and preferably at the right hand side thereof, in such a position as to be readily reached by the occupant Thus the occupant may make the I clear that the arms l5 will swing forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the seat. By employing the nut 26 on the bolt 21, it is apparent that the arms [5 and the backrest 6 carried thereby will remain in the position to which they were adjusted because no stresses, jolts or jars imposed against the backrest itself can function to cause a movement of the nut 26 on the bolt 21. With the adjustments as afforded by the nut 26 and the clips l9 it is evident that the backrest 6 may be adjusted into a position for the greatest convenience and comfort of the person to occupy the chair.

The parts mentioned are relatively few for the functions performed, and are simple in construction for ease in assembly and for low cost production.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A chair embodying therein a seat, a vertically depending flange at each side of the seat, a horizontally disposed axis bar journalled at its ends between thevvertically depending flanges, means carried by said axis bar and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom for supporting a back rest, an arm fixed to and extending forwardly from said axis bar adjacent one of said flanges, a threaded member depending adjacent one side of the seat, a nut positioned on said threaded member and turnable by the occupant of the chair, said nut having an annular groove therein, and a bifurcation at the free end of said arm and engaged in the groove in the nut to impart a swinging movement to said arm for rocking said axis bar when said nut is turned in either direction on said threaded member.

2. A chair comprising a seat, a horizontal flange at each side of the seat and upon which the seat rests, spaced vertical flanges depending from the seat, inwardly directed bearing ears projected from the vertical flanges, an axis bar pivotally connected to the seat with its ends journalled in the bearing ears, a back rest supporting means carried by the axis bar, a threaded member depending from one of said horizontal flanges, a nut engaged on said threaded member for longitudinal movement thereon and provided with an annular groove, and an arm fixed at one end with respect to said axis bar and bifurcated at its other end to operatively engage in said groove so as to impart a swinging movement to the axis bar and the back rest supporting means carried thereby when said nut is turned in either direction on said threaded member.

ARTHUR E. JONES. 

